No ‘kids menu’ for Hill in Bengals preseason
Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo has compared the complexity of the defensive scheme in the preseason to the “kids menu” at a restaurant. He saves most of the nuances for the regular season and games that count.
He made an exception to that approach with the way he used rookie safety Dax Hill in the Bengals' preseason opener.
In the first drive alone, Hill played six different types of coverage. He was used as the lone safety down the field and as a split safety in a Cover-2 defense. He run blitzed and pass blitzed. He served as a quarterback spy and as a linebacker.
By the time the game was over, he nearly had two interceptions and showed he's a more physical player than he was in college.
“I saw his range, I saw his athleticism, and for a young guy in his first time going out there, I know it was a surreal moment for him,” said Bengals safety Mike Thomas, who started alongside Hill. “To see him make those plays in the post, almost make that interception, that would have been a wild play. There's so much to like about him.”
The almost-interception came when Hill was defending Cardinals' tight end Chris Pierce in one-on-one coverage. On a fade, Hill kept the tight end on his front shoulder to create leverage as he attempted a leaping catch. Pierce had to knock the ball down to keep Hill from coming away with it.
On a few other routes, Hill showed his strength versus tight ends by absorbing hits past the line of scrimmage and holding his ground against the route.
Hill barely guarded tight ends in college, and that's been his biggest area of growth with the Bengals. Since he can do that, Anarumo is going to be able to use more three-safety looks on third downs with Jessie Bates, Vonn Bell and Hill.
“They're bigger bodies, and I can be more physical,” Hill said. “That's something where I've had to adjust my game and make sure I'm playing my techniques so I won't get flustered or anything like that.”
Later in the game, Cardinals quarterback Trace Mcsorley attempted the type of throw that Bengals quarterback Brandon Allen said he has avoided during camp because of Hill's speed. When Mcsorley threw to his slot receiver down the field, Hill was waiting to pounce, and he broke up the play with a running hit.
“He jumped out at you,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor said about the Bengals' first-round pick.